Manchester attack: Theresa May says suicide bomber chose place to cause 'maximum carnage'

Hatty Collier23 May 2017
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Theresa May has said police know the identity of the suicide bomber who deliberately chose a place where he could cause “maximum carnage” when he detonated a bomb at a pop concert in Manchester.

The Prime Minister said “many” children and young people were among the 22 dead and 59 injured in the attack on the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena on Monday night.

She said that police and security services believe they know the identity of the man responsible and are now working to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a group.

Mrs May was speaking outside Downing Street after chairing an emergency Cobra meeting in the wake of the attack.

The Prime Minister prepares to give a statement outside Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA )
Stefan Rousseau/PA

She said it was “beyond doubt” that the people of Manchester and the UK had fallen victim to a “callous terrorist attack”.

But she added that the "cowardice of the attacker was met by the bravery of the emergency services and the people of Manchester".

Terror attack: The explosion hit as 21,000 concert-goers were leaving the arena
PA

She hailed those who rushed to help and who had shown "the spirit of Britain ... a spirit that through years of conflict and terrorism has never been broken and will never be broken".

The PM said she would travel to Manchester to meet officials and chair another meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later on Tuesday.

Manchester Arena explosion aftermath - In pictures

1/35

Mrs May said: "It is now beyond doubt that the people of Manchester and of this country have fallen victim to a callous terrorist attack, an attack that targeted some of the youngest people in our society with cold calculation.

"This was among the worst terrorist incidents we have ever experienced in the United Kingdom.

"And although it is not the first time Manchester has suffered in this way, it is the worst attack the city has experienced and the worst-ever to hit the north of England.”

She added: “All acts of terrorism are cowardly attacks on innocent people but this attack stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice - deliberately targeting innocent defenceless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives."

Mrs May said if there turns out to be others responsible for this attack, the police and security services would seek them out and bring them to justice.

She added: "We struggle to comprehend the warped and twisted mind that sees a room packed with young children not as a scene to cherish but as an opportunity for carnage.

"But we can continue to resolve to thwart such attacks in future - to take on and defeat the ideology that often fuels this violence, and if there turn out to be others responsible for this attack to seek them out and bring them to justice.

"The police and security services believe that the attack was carried out by one man but they now need to know whether he was acting alone or as part of a wider group.

"It will take some time to establish these facts and the investigation will continue."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in